This case is a classic example of how Latent Organizational Failures INFLUENCE the decision-making of workers (and middle managers). At the end of this press release, the DOJ admits that “Company management had informed some of its employees that if operations came to a halt, the company would suffer serious financial harm, potentially including dissolution.” Also, the DOJ pointed out that from late 2019 to the beginning of 2024, the facility was accepting more TBOH and other chemicals from its customers than it could legally and safely process and remove. To ensure operations did not come to a halt and realize a maximum profit, the facility released the TBOH byproduct from Tank 14, causing it to flow into the Cape Fear River.
Yet the DOJ prosecuted the sole manager who hooked up the hose and opened the valve to drain the waste into the river.
Was he solely responsible for his actions, or was he doing what had to be done to keep the business afloat? Was he the middle man, stuck with more inventory than his plant could process?
Agree or Disagree?